Climate change has made it all the more important for households and businesses alike to work towards more sustainable practices. The more that we can all shift towards lower-carbon sources of energy and towards home and business practices that are easier on the environment, the closer we will get to reaching our climate goals.
Fortunately, many businesses are taking the lead in a big way when it comes to bringing sustainability to the table. In ways, large and small, more and more companies are understanding that the most profitable course to take in the long run will be one that does not place a high burden on the environment.
From choosing an eco-friendly printer cartridge to making green investments, let’s look at how industries are shifting toward more sustainable practices.
Printing
Even office workers have to play their part when it comes to protecting the environment. Thankfully, this is often as easy as shifting towards eco-friendly office products and supplies. Printers are notoriously harsh on the environment for their waste and their energy usage. However, more offices are working to upgrade their printing technology to be energy-efficient and to use refillable or recyclable ink cartridges.
Construction
Workers in construction may have noticed that the industry is working towards many new practices that are aimed at lowering emissions. This represents a significant departure from the past, where energy efficiency and sustainable design was not always a top priority. For example, buildings are increasingly built-to-last using materials that are more robust yet not harmful to manufacture.
Even road construction is increasingly conducted with a different philosophy. These days, a direct route between two points is often favoured.
Transportation
The transportation industry has undergone a dramatic transformation towards greater sustainability; however, much work remains to be done. The past decade has seen a major shift towards electric car production. Rather than being a novelty, they are increasingly offered by a larger proportion of car manufacturers.
Aviation still represents a big problem for climate change and emissions. However, the industry is moving towards greater fuel efficiency and exploring options to make the process of flying easier on the environment.
Energy
One of the most radical shifts towards sustainability is taking place in the energy industry. While oil and gas remain highly important for meeting the energy needs of the global economy, there is a notable transformation taking place in the eyes of many governments and private sector firms around the world. New investments and research into renewable and alternative sources of green energy are shaking up the way that our energy system works. Since this sector has historically been one of the major contributors to the world’s emissions profile, this is a promising development for meeting international climate goals.
Manufacturing
There are many changes occurring in the manufacturing sector that suggest a promising improvement towards sustainability. Many businesses are focused on reducing waste and by-products in the manufacturing process. Innovative technological development is improving and streamlining processes to minimise the number of resources that are needed to produce goods. There are also increasing efforts towards sourcing inputs for manufacturing processes from renewable and ethical sources. These all suggest that the future of the manufacturing industry will trend towards ever greater sustainability.
More Work To Be Done
Though the past decades have seen a marked improvement in the sustainability of many industries, there is still much work to be done. In light of the climate crisis, continued efforts and investments need to be made to reduce emissions and shift towards sustainable and renewable sources of energy and inputs.
